Whether you are dining in a French restaurant or a simple diner, it is imperative for you to have the best dining experience. Aside from enjoying good food, one of the reasons why we go out to dine in restaurants is to relax and reward ourselves. If you haven’t had success in this aspect for quite awhile now, here are four simple tips that can help turn your experiences into happy and memorable ones.

Go out of your way to try something that’s not your “regular”.

We all have our favorite restaurant. That one place where we feel comfortable and sure that we’ll love whatever we order. That one restaurant with a menu we’ve mastered from front to back. But if you want a real dining experience, you should open yourself to more unusual and surprising restaurant choices. In other words, avoid your “regular” from time-to-time and try out something new. This is the only way you can try something different or unique.

Don’t rush.

One of the reasons some people do not enjoy their restaurant dining experience is the fact that they tend to rush through their meal. This should not be the case. Slow down, relax, and enjoy your food. Nobody in a restaurant is in a hurry. Don’t keep looking at your watch. Enjoy the company of your companion. Savor all the delicious food spread right before you. Relax with a glass of wine and some dessert before ending your meal.

Talk to your server. Ask him questions.

Talk to your server. Ask for his name and strike up a brief conversation with him. In particular, you should ask him for suggestions on what you should pick out from the menu. Ask him about the restaurant’s specialities. Ask for food recommendations and find out which of the wines or beverages are preferred by regular diners. Remember, your server’s primary goal is to satisfy your needs and wants. Don’t hesitate to take advantage of this.

Focus on having a good time and enjoying your food.

Another common mistake a lot of restaurant diners make is that they dwell too much on looking for servers who make mistakes or on the way food is served or cook. This is why dining experiences often turn out to be trips to hell. When you are eating in a restaurant, do your best to focus on the positive, on having fun and enjoying your food. Do not find fault or look for loopholes. Think positive and everything positive will embrace you.

French cuisine is distinctive, colorful, and rich in natural regional flavors. Some people may find it exquisite, but French food is generally easy to like. Its ingredients are easy-to-find and quite simple. Two of the most common elements of a French dining experience are cheese and wine, and these two are served basically everywhere in France. They’re served at cocktail parties, formal dinners, and in restaurants. Cheese and wine are not the end-all and be-all of French cuisine, though. There are a lot of interesting (and mouthwatering choices) that you should try out. Here are four of them.

Salade Nicoise

This is a salad dish that originated from Nice, France. Its ingredients are hard boiled eggs, tomatoes, anchovies, and Nicoise olives. Some varieties add tuna (cooked or canned) and raw green beans. Some chefs prefer to prepare it with lettuce, while others do not. There are also Salade Nicoise versions that use salmon instead of tuna. Ritz-Carlton Hotel served its version with capers and vinaigrette back in 1941 while popular chef Nigella Lawson came out with a Salade Nicoise quick recipe using potatoes instead of croutons.

French Onion Soup or Soupe a l’oignon

This is one of the most popular traditional French dishes. In some parts of the country, this is even prepared regularly in homes. The two main ingredients of Soupe a l’oignon are beef stock and onion. Considered a dish for the poor during the time of the Romans, this soup is often served with melted cheese on top and some croutons. The onions in this onion soup are caramelized.

Coq au vin

A regional dish, Coq au vin is chicken that’s braised with wine, mushrooms, and lardons or bacon. Some versions use garlic and Burgundy – particularly the red variety. This dish was made popular by Julia Child through her book and TV show.

Ratatouille

No, this is not the animated movie. Ratatouille is actually a stewed vegetable dish that originated from Provence. It is usually served as a meal or as a side dish. Likewise, it can be used as stuffing for other French dishes like omelettes. Ratatouille’s main ingredients are tomatoes, onions, zucchini, garlic, carrots, eggplant, basil, thyme, bell peppers, marjoram, and Provence herbs, among others

French cuisine is one of the most distinctive and creative in the world. Although its earliest recipes had Italian influences, two chefs started re-creating French cuisine sometime in the 17th century. Eventually, it developed its identity by incorporating regional flavors. Two of the most popular factors of French cuisine are wine and cheese. For those who love French dishes, enjoying every dining experience comes naturally. But for those who have yet to get used to its distinct taste (and dining style), some tips can be followed to help make the French cuisine dining experience memorable and enjoyable.

French cuisine has to be savored.

Enjoy your French dining experience. Every meal should be taken slowly. Do not rush or eat too fast. You have to savor every bite and taste all the flavors. The French consider every meal a relaxing experience. Your usual five-minute meal should be stretched if you are to enjoy French cuisine.

Bread should be eaten properly.

If you get a piece of bread, place it on the table or a small plate beside your plate. In addition to this, if you are served a loaf of bread, do not position it upside down on the table as this will invite bad luck.

Observe proper etiquette when eating.

No, you don’t have to be Ms. Prim and Proper, but you do have to follow some French dining basics. First off, as soon as you are seated, place your table napkin on your lap. Second, do not order soft drinks or soda as the French do not consider such beverages as complementary to a good meal. Additionally, do not ask for ice to be added to your drink as the French do not do this. Third, do not touch your food with your hand while dining. Lastly, once the wine is opened, be courteous and ask your companions first if they want wine. Pour some on your glass after you have served them.

Eat everything on your plate.

In all instances, do not leave a single bit of food on your plate unless you want people to know you did not like how the food was cooked or served, or that you did not like the quality of the dishes you had

French cuisine is one of the most distinctive and creative …Read More »

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Carly Le Restaurant was launched in Dallas, Texas in 2000 by Rusell Huber. The goal was to promote good food by offering authentic French cuisine in a simple and relaxing setting. The mission is to provide food that nourishes the entire being and to make eating an enjoyable experience.